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The Texas Rangers announced this afternoon that they have come to terms with arbitration eligible outfield, David Murphy, on a one year contract that will pay him $2.4 million in 2011. Murphy has played three and a half seasons with the Rangers after coming over from Boston along with Kason Gabbard and Engel Beltre in exchange for Eric Gagne and cash.
This was his first year of arbitration eligibility. He earned $427,670 in 2010. His 2011 salary represents a 461.2% raise over 2010.
Murphy played all three outfield positions in 2010 for the AL Champion Rangers. He hit a dozen home runs and batted .291/.358/.449 in 467 plate appearances that covered 138 games. For his career with the Rangers he has hit for .283/.342/.459 to go with competent fielding in center and above average defensive skills at the corners.
The Rangers still have to work out deals with Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, C.J. Wilson, Frank Francisco and Darren O'Day. Mark Lowe who was also arbitration eligible previously agreed with the team on a new contract for 2011. The team will exchange contract figures with each of its remaining arbitration eligible players on January 15th, unless deals are struck between now and then.
In addition to signing Murphy, the Rangers announced a pair of minor league acquisitions. Zach Jackson, a left handed reliever who pitched for the Blue Jays at the AAA club in Las Vegas agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Jackson was knocked around by PCL batters to the tine of a 2-3 record and a 5.64 ERA in 35 games. The Rangers also signed Erold Andrus, the elder brother of Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus. The elder Andrus last played in the Frontier League in 2009, where he posted a .302/.371/.454 batting line in 391 plate appearances of independent league ball.
Click here to read the release from the Rangers.
RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH OUTFIELDER David Murphy ON 2011 CONTRACT
Murphy had been eligible for arbitration
Arlington, Texas – The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has agreed to terms with outfielder David Murphy on a contract for the 2011 season. Financial terms were not disclosed, per club policy.
The club now has five total players still eligible for arbitration heading into the 2011 season: OF Nelson Cruz, RHP Frank Francisco, OF Josh Hamilton, OF RHP Darren O’Day, and LHP C.J. Wilson. Murphy joins right-handed pitcher Mark Lowe as arbitration-eligible players already under contract for the upcoming year.
Murphy, 29, batted .291 with 12 home runs and 65 RBI in 138 games for Texas in 2010. He had a .311 (66-212) average with 9 homers and 41 RBI over 63 games after the All-Star break and was named Rangers Player of the Month for September. He played 11 postseason games during the club’s World Series run, including a homer in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Yankees.
Zach Jackson SIGNED: The Rangers formally announced that the club has signed left-handed pitcher Zach Jackson to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. Jackson, 27, spent last season with Las Vegas (AAA) in the Toronto organization, going 2-3 with a 5.64 ERA (51 ER/81.1 IP) in 35 games/5 starts. He has 22 games/17 starts in his major league career, going 4-5 with a 5.81 ERA for Milwaukee (2006, 2008) and Cleveland (2008-09). Jackson joins seven other non-roster invitees to big league camp: INF Brian Barden, C Kevin Cash, OF Endy Chavez, OF Doug Deeds, INF Esteban German, RHP Seth McClung, and RHP Ryan Tucker.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: The club also formally announced that Erold Andrus, older brother of Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, has been signed a minor league contract. The elder Andrus, 25, will be in minor league camp this spring. In his last action in 2009, he batted .302 with 9 home runs and 48 RBI in 90 games for Florence of the independent Frontier League. He owns a career .267 average in eight minor league seasons from 2002-09.
 Joe Tetreault is Managing Editor of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He can be contacted here through The Biz of Baseball
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